The Moving picture world (September 1923-October 1923)

October 27, 1923 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 763 At Ticonderoga, New York, I visited the "Play House," managed by A. M. Barton, with whom I had a pleasant chat. Projectionist Frederick Brush was using Mazda and putting on a remarkably wellilluminated picture, considering the limiting power of the light source. The illumination was, it seemed to me, entirely sufficient for an auditorium of that size. What I saw in the Star Theatre, Potsdam, New York, made me sit up and take very decided notice. At times the screen illumination was quite good. At other times it was dim and very yellow. At the end of each reel the familiar "End Part " appeared before the projector stop, and all was black and very still for fifteen seconds or more, when BINGM! on came the picture again, followed by the old frame-it-up stunt which I had thought was gone and very nearly forgotten. Inasmuch as this happened at the end of every reel I was puzzled and could not figure out exactly what was being pulled off, until at the beginning of one of the reels the projectionist left something off or open and there was a glare of light on the theatre ceiling with those one-per-second recurring flashes of shadow which told the story. The man was cranking!!!! His projector motor was of the Armstrong variety and he, apparently being alone, was obliged to stop one projector before he could start the other, since his motor consisted of his good right arm. Apparently some one did the threading for him, but was not up to threadthe frame. I had a good laugh at this visualization of the methods of other days. Ottawa In Ottawa I had little time to do anything but attend the meeting and the various functions planned for the S. M. P. E. I did, however, visit the Franklin Theatre, where I met Manager Franklin, whom I last saw in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and saw one of the best vaudeville bills (Keith house) it has been my privilege to enjoy for a long, long while. I called at the Center Theatre and had a pleasant chat with its manager; also visited its excellent projection room. On the way home I visited the Palace Theatre, Pittsfield, Mass., viewed an excellent performance and met Manager Raymond and Projectionist Joseph Coultier and his assistant, Thomas Walsh. Projectionist Coultier is doing good work and, I think, doing it efficiently and intelligently. Unintelligent James B. Enochs, Projectionist Strand Theatre, Duluth, Minn., approves of Projection Room as against Projector Room, as follows : Sometimes because of lack of interest, or failure to act upon things which are of interest to us, some very unintelligent things receive the approval of intelligent bodies. The proposal by the Society of Motion Picture Engineers to adopt into its nomenclature the term "Projector Room" to denote the room from which pictures are projected, instead of "Projection Room," as proposed by its Nomenclature Committee, seems to me to be unintelligent, and if this proposed action is taken for no other reason than to give the producers the name "projection room" to apply to their screening rooms, then it certainly is unintelligent. I have not a June 9 issue of the World at hand, hence do not know the views expressed by the society members who discussed it, but anyhow, here are my own views: I would define a "Projector Room" as a room used for storing projectors, or a room used for the display of projectors, whereas I would define "Projection Room" as a room from which pictures are projected — a room used by projectionists as well as projectors. I believe the three names, Projectionist, Projector and Projection Room, just naturally go together. Shoot at Duluth When we of Duluth don't respond to a request made by the Projection Department don't think we are all dead, but put In a bit more powder and shoot at us again. By so doing you will either wake up some of the old timers or bring some first timers to the Department. Being a first timer myself, perhaps I should introduce myself. I came from Sherman, Texas. Shortly after your visit to that city I began my apprenticeship as a projectionist— then called an "Operator" — under our very worthy brother, M. M. Moon, who is now in Los Angeles. (Well, if he is, why in hallelujah don't he make a noise like an explosion, instead of trying to imitate a bashful oyster? — Ed.) In the early part of 1920 I went to San Diego, Cal. (Great place, but filled with men who are as noisy as clams. — Ed.) and worked part time for a few months. Then I moved right next door to the dominions of His Satanic Majesty, so far as heat is concerned anyhow, viz.: El Centro, Cal., where I worked at the Palace for a few months. My next move was to Duluth, and here I am. Everything in El Centro in the way of working conditions is ideal, BUT the weather — oh Bhoy! The management could not be beat, but just try spending July in El Centro with a nice, cool lamphouse beside you! I could go on writing, telling you of the school meeting which the local holds regularly, of our raise in pay, and hand out some compliments on the Bluebook, a copy of which every member of Local Union 509 owns, but this being my first letter I will subside into silence, for it is already too long. So you served an apprenticeship under Moon, did you? Well, the Moon you refer to has been under a cloud of silence for a longish spell. Suppose he shove said cloud aside and shine upon us once more. As to the "Projection Room" matter, I succeeded in having it laid over six months, so now it is up to you to get busy. I have just received the first official union indorsement of "Projection Room," by the Rock Island, 111., local. Now let's have one from 509! Too Small The projectionist of the Strand Theatre, Waco, Texas, wants to know about those addresses of Projectionists' tool makers which Jack Peyton, of the Southern Theatre Equipment Company's repair department, was going to send some while ago. Would also like to know whether or not that gentleman has yet placed his "Precision Test Indicator" on the market, and if so where one may be secured. This good brother then says: I also desire to register a good, strong kick with regard to the projection department. It is TOO SMALL! Projection is one of the most important cogs of the industry, yet we are lucky if we g-et a page and a half a week on projection. We should have five or six pages a week, at least. Five or six pages! Man, have a heart! But I have always held that we ought to have three. The department size was reduced for the reason that as a business proposition the size of the paper had to be reduced, and there must be room for other matters, which press hard for space. If enough of you showed your interest by writing as this brother has done, it is possible we might get back to three pages. I dunno, of course, but it is possible. Publishers gauge the importance of what they give space to by the noise the readers make in demanding it. MACHINES THEATRE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES WRITE FOB CATALOG ERKER BROS. OPTICAL CO. ST. LOUIS, MO. Lifts Weary Hand Wilfred Paye, Twin Falls, Idaho, says: You being the accepted arbiter In all things pertaining to the genus homo known as the Motion Picture Projectionist, I cast a hopeful eye in the direction of wisdom and lift a weary hand to unburden my ignorance and lay my troubles at your door. In the cosmic scheme of things, which Is the greater, the President or Business Agent of a local union or the fabled Gods of history? In attempting business intercourse with the local, I have, in my blundering way, apparently rushed in where angels would fear to tread. Why it is that the projestionist must subject himself to treatment a self-respecting dog would resent, in applying for membership in a local??? What crime against the union, or against the ethics of organized labor in general does a man who merely desires admission to the organization, commit by having that desire???*** I have, on the other hand, encouraged men of different locals who were intelligent, courteous and a credit to the profession. These, however, were, for the most part, merely members and NOT officers. Discourteous Treatment Where the stars occur were four pages setting forth various items of discourteous treatment encountered, in various places, when visiting union headquarters. In one he found a card tacked to the wall, beside the entrance to union headquarters, which read: "If you haven't a card, stay out." Of treatment after bearding the lion of this office in his den, without a card, he says, "the feeling lingered sweetly for some time of a cannon loaded with shrapnel and trained carefully upon union headquarters." It requires but a glance at this man's letter to see that he is no dumbbell. He is a man who, presumably, would be a credit to the organization to which he seeks, or did seek, admission. That his charge is true in many instances, or places, rather, I very well know, and that fact is NOT to the credit of the projectionists of this country. I could myself give names, dates and data of instances where literally outrageous treatment was accorded men whose only offense was that they sought admission to the organization. Gentlemen, the question asked by this good friend : "What crime against the union, or against the ethics of organized labor in general does a man who merely desires admission to the organization commit by having that desire?", is a most pertinent one ! It is high time unions and union officials who are guilty of abusing and affronting those who seek membership be made to understand that such conduct is not only unbecoming, but also ungentlemanly and unsportsmanlike. Not All Alike Don't waste energy telling me it is not done by some union officials, for I know better and, as I said, can give you time*, places and names where it HAS been done, though please understand that not all unions, by any manner of means, are guilty. Many unions have competent, efficient men for officials— men who have too much innate decency and gentlemanliness either to do such things or to permit them to be done. Sad to say, however, there are a goodly number of unions which have not been so fortunate in their selection of officers. True, it is not always advisable or possible to admit to membership those who apply, but certainly their application does NOT constitute a crime. They are fully entitled to courteous treatment and considerations, with a kindly-given explanation of the reasons why their application cannot be considered. Had I been in the place of friend Paye I would have torn the "If you haven't a card, stay out" sign off the wall and taken it into the FREAK who occupied the official chair, but who did not come within seven miles of filling it. It is just such cheerful idiots as this who create needless hard feeling and make bitter enemies.